"Remember that the nation lives in the cottage. But, alas! nobody ever did anything for them. Our modern reformers are very busy about widow remarriage. Of course, I am a sympathiser in every reform, but the fate of a nation does not depend upon the number of husbands their widows get, but upon the condition of the masses. Can you raise them? Can you give them back their lost individuality without making them lose their innate spiritual nature?" - Vivekananda

We
all have goals. Meditation
and yoga are powerful tools to first realize your aspirations,
and then set your plan into motion. When you practice yoga
or meditate, you allow your mind to relax. A common misconception
is that you are meant to be peaceful every time you meditate.
In reality, meditation gives your mind the chance to take
a break from constantly working and organizing. When you give
your brain permission to meander, you observe your subconscious
thoughts. This will reveal all of your emotional attachment
to these thoughts - from the blissful ideas to the more difficult
feelings that hold you back from achieving your goals.

I
teach my yoga students to not only notice these thoughts that
come up, but also to use their yoga practice to facilitate
change. I have seen students make
incredible transformations, including initiating a conversation
with their parents about issues they have been holding onto
since they were kids and leaving corporate jobs to pursue
their passions.

First,
through positive language and encouragement, my yoga students
develop a strong sense of self-worth and confidence.

Through
practicing and achieving poses they initially thought were
impossible, they become resilient and goal-oriented. This
confidence supports them while they work through the mental
obstacles that hold them back. With time, this process of
seeing something through to the finish shifts their perspectives
from a negative, restrictive attitude to a sense of radical
accomplishment and abundance, both personally and professionally.

Russell
Simmons is a great example of how yoga and meditation facilitates
success in business. The hip-hop mogul and founder of the
fashion line Phat Farm just released a mobile app, Meditation
Made Simple. My philosophy is: If the app helps make meditation
accessible to more people, and they become mindful about their
health, it's a good tool. Simmons talked to U.S. News about
his path to yoga and meditation, and why he believes it is
one of the most important assets as an entrepreneur. His responses
have been edited.

How
did you first get into yoga and meditation?

Over
20 years ago, I went to my first
yoga class because there were so many hot girls. [But]
I came out of that first class thrilled because I was awake.
I felt present. I went every day after. My teacher talked
about meditation, and so I started to meditate. I've been
doing it ever since, pretty much daily.

What
type of meditation do you practice?

It's
mantra-based. For example, inhale "let," exhale
"go." Sit, set an alarm and be still. The point
is to stay focused on the mantra and let go. My go-to mantra
is "rum." It has no meaning. It's just a sound.

How
has meditation helped you as an entrepreneur?

I
created businesses from the experience of staying focused
on one idea and having faith in it. Five to six years later,
[the businesses] have come to light and they have given me
hope to move forward.

The
single-pointed focus - the idea of being in the world, and
you're able to slow it down - [has helped]. When you're present,
you don't feel bound by the past and you feel freedom for
the future. Use that same brilliance to build something else.

If
meditation is the key to accessing your creativity, how do
you put that into action?

You
want to be in a moving meditation. You want to watch your
thoughts. If you become the watcher, then you make much better
choices. Inside, you are all the answers to everything. All
my businesses took resilience and faith in these businesses
to gain focus.

This
is why I don't get too nervous about business; I just do the
best I can.

What
new business endeavors are you involved in?

I
launched an app on iTunes. It's based on my 2014 book, "Success
Through Stillness." It's a guide for meditation
for beginners or for anyone. I build new businesses, I
find someone to focus on. My company, UniRush, took faith
and resilience to pioneer an industry. Without meditation,
that business wouldn't exist.